Consumer Confidence Increased Slightly in March Consumer confidence increased slightly in March, according to the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, after a decrease in February. LEI Increased 1.9 Percent from September 2021 to March 2022 The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the US increased 0.3 percent in March, following a 0.6 percent increase [...]
Manufacturing Activity Strengthened in May Manufacturing activity strengthened in May, according to the most recent Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Fifth District Survey of Manufacturing Activity report. All three component indexes-shipments, new orders and employment-reflected growth. The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) Declined in April The Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) declined to [...]
Re-Openings Inspiring Confidence Re-openings inspiring confidence is reflected in the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Small Business Optimism index, which rose 3.8 points in September. Overall confidence and hiring appear to be benefitting from re-openings finally getting underway in some of the nation's largest states. Consumer sentiment continued to improve in October, in the [...]
Housing Starts Rose in November Single family housing starts rose 2.4% in November, multi-family starts by 4.9% and overall building permits rose 1.4%. Wells Fargo November existing home sales declined 1.7% in November but are still up 2.7% over the year. Sales should continue to improve with support from lower mortgage rates though inventory shortages [...]
Real GDP Increased 3.2% Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased 3.2 percent in the first quarter of 2019, according to the "advance" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). In the fourth quarter of 2018, real GDP increased 2.2 percent. Durable goods orders rose 2.7% in March. Core capital goods orders suggest the [...]
Chicago Business Barometer Highest Level Since January The Chicago Business Barometer at highest level since January, rose to 64.1 in June. New orders were up for the second straight month while prices paid reached their highest level since May 2011. Lead times and backlogs also increased in June. Texas Factory Activity Continued in June The [...]
North American Steel Output Increased North American steel output increased by 4.9% year on year in March to 10.29 million tons. Steel production in the USA inched up by 5.3% year on year to 7.26 million tons. AMM Global crude steel production rose by 4% year on year in March, partly attributed to Chinese production. [...]
Timken Steel Raised SBQ Prices In a leading move, Timken Steel raised SBQ prices. The Canton, Ohio company raised its special bar quality (SBQ) product prices by $50-$150 per ton effective Wednesday March 28, 2018. This comes after SBQ mills in the USA slated base price increases effective with April 1 shipments. US producers raised SBQ [...]
Caterpillar Sales and Profit Forecast Raised Caterpillar sales and profit forecast raised as demand for construction and mining equipment has grown. WSJ Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Increased at an Annual Rate of 3.0 Percent Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 3.0 percent in the third quarter of 2017, according [...]
New York State Business Activity Grew Modestly in July New York State business activity grew modestly in July, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Empire State Manufacturing Survey for July 2017. U.S. Drill Rigs Running Held Steady The number of drill rigs running in the US held steady last week as gains [...]
